New Bathroom Ideas - Gibson

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BATHROOMIDEAS THAT WORK

TAUNTON’S

NEW

SCOTT GIBSON


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SCOTT GIBSON

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Text © 2012 by Scott GibsonIllustrations © 2012 by The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

PpThe Taunton Press, Inc.,63 South Main Street, PO Box 5506Newtown, CT 06470-5506e-mail: [email protected]

Editor: Carolyn MandaranoCopy editor: Nina Rynd WhitnahIndexer: Cathy GoddardInterior design: Carol PetroLayout: David GiammatteiIllustrator: Christine EriksonCover Photographers: (Front cover, clockwise from top): © Gridley + Graves, design: Craig Kettles, C designs, www.c-designs.biz; © Dulcie

Horowitz; © Eric Roth; © Mark Lohman; © Eric Roth; (Back cover, clockwise from top): courtesy of The Kohler Co.; © Tria Giovan; © TriaGiovan; © Ken Gutmaker; © Mark Lohman; © Karen Melvin

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataGibson, Scott, 1951- New bathroom ideas that work / Scott Gibson. p. cm. Includes index. E-Book ISBN 978-1-62113-846-41. Bathrooms--Remodeling. I. Title. TH4816.3.B37G533 2012 690’.42--dc23 2011049360

Printed in the United States of America10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The following names/manufacturers appearing in New Bathroom Ideas That Work are trademarks: BioGlassSM, BioLet®, Eco-Top™,EnviroSLAB™, Halogená®, Hatbox®, IceStoneSM, Nuheat™, PaperStone®, Schluter®, Schluter®-Ditra, Vetrazzo®


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This book would not have been possible without the architects, designers, and otherprofessionals who graciously took time to participate. Thanks to Debbie Wiener, Mary JoPeterson, Erica Westeroth, Alan Asarnow, Rosemarie Rossetti, Terry McKeown, CynthiaLiebrock, David Wagner, Debbi Cleary, Eliza Hart, Jean Larsen, Amy Blackstone andKrieger + Associates, Julia Zander and Russ Hamlet, Maraya Droney, Rick Skalak, AnneCallender, John Whipple, Belinda Marzi, and Terry McKeown of Ulrich Inc.

To the many photographers whose work is represented in these pages, thank you.Bathrooms are not the easiest spaces to photograph.

At The Taunton Press, my thanks and appreciation to Carolyn Mandarano, the editorof both this book and the rst edition ofBathroom Ideas That Work in 2007, and KatyBinder, the photo editor. Thanks also to the able design and production staff at Taunton,people who always make the most of the material they are given and whose extra effortsare truly appreciated.

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S


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Introduction 5

CHAPTER 1

Planning YourBathroom 6

Putting Ideas into Practice . . . . . . . . 12

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Getting the Most from a Tiny Space . . . . . . . 14THE ESSENTIALS

Hiring the Right People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Making Design Accessible . . . . . . . . 20PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Handicapped-Accessible with anOld-Fashioned Feel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Managing Energy and Water Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

CHAPTER 2

Fixtures 32Sinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Countertops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46THE ESSENTIALS

Countertop Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Grand Lifestyle Meets Modern Realities . . . . 52

Faucets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Toilets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Toilets That Save Water . . . . . . . . . . 64

Urinals and Bidets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Better, Not Bigger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

CHAPTER 3

Tubs and Showers 70Bathtubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74THE ESSENTIALS

Bathtubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Freestanding Tubs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Borrowing Space Allows a Bath to Grow . . . . 86

Showers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Combination Tub/Showers . . . . . . . 92

Showerheads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Finding Space under the Eaves . . . . . . . . . . 98

CHAPTER 4

Floors, Walls &Ceilings 100

Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

THE ESSENTIALS

Flooring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Making an Old Space Feel Modern . . . . . . 110

Walls and Ceilings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118THE ESSENTIALS

Walls and Ceilings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Vegas-Inspired Wild Tile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Borrowing Light from the Room Next Door 132

C O N T E N T S


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Floors, Walls and Ceilings 1


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2 Ideas that work: BATHROOMS


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CHAPTER 5

Lighting 134THE ESSENTIALS

Lightbulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Creating Multiple Sources of Light . . . . . . 140

Ambient Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Task Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Accent Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

CHAPTER 6

Heating, Cooling & Ventilation 152

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Making Two Bathrooms from One . . . . . . . 156

Fans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158THE ESSENTIALS

Bathroom Fans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160Heaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164THE ESSENTIALS

Heaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

A 19th-Century Split Level. . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

CHAPTER 7

Storage 168Borrowing Ideas from theKitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Unifying Design with Light and Wood . . . . 174

Cabinetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176THE ESSENTIALS

Cabinet Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

A Design that’s All about the Details . . . . . . 188

Medicine Cabinets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

CHAPTER 8

Finishing Touches 194Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198THE ESSENTIALS

Paint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Bath with a View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

Wallpaper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202

Window Coverings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204PUTTING I T ALL TOGETHER

Connecting Spaces with Light and Air . . . . 206

Resources 210

Credits 211

Index 214

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The rst edition of BathroomIdeas That Work was published in 2007,and since that time, there have been twosignicant changes in the world of residential

construction. First, the bottom fell out of theU.S. housing market; second, green buildinghas become much more widely practiced.Both of these have changed the way we look atbathroom design.

The painful contraction of the housing industryhas meant fewer construction jobs and lowerproperty values for many homeowners. That,no doubt, has discouraged many people fromselling their homes until the market improves. At the same time, the situation has providedan incentive for homeowners to repair andrenovate what they already have.

According to the 2011 cost vs. value studypublished by Hanley Wood’s Remodeling magazine, a midrange bathroom remodel willearn back 64 percent of its cost at resale. Anupscale remodel returned only 57 percent.That suggests money for bathroom additionsand renovations should be spent wisely, not ontrendy upgrades but on high-quality buildingmaterials and xtures that will hold their value.

The other development has been the riseof green building, a much different way oflooking at design and construction than inthe past. Among the most important values ofgreen building is sustainability, which puts aspecial emphasis on conserving water, energy,and other natural resources. For a variety ofreasons, conservation is becoming a practical

I N T R O D U C T I O N

necessity for many of us. Supplies of cleanwater are under increasing pressure in someparts of the country and will continue to be inhigh demand for agriculture, recreation, andindustry as well as houses. The same can besaid of energy that’s used to heat and cool ourhomes—it’s more expensive and harder to get.There are, however, many bathroom productson the market that save signicant amounts ofwater or energy without sacricing creaturecomforts. You simply need to ask the rightquestions before making a product selection.

Resource conservation also encourages theuse of durable building materials, especiallythose that can be found locally. How does thisdrive bathroom design? By putting a premiumon xtures and materials that don’t have to bereplaced often. What this means is that ceramictile starts to look more attractive than sheet vinyl;

acrylic or cast-iron showers and tubs are betterbets than berglass/gelcoat and porcelain steel.

Houses that are better insulated and more tightlysealed also put a premium on effective ventilation,not only to keep indoor air quality high but alsoto protect the building from an accumulationof moisture in wall and ceiling cavities. And, asthe need for good ventilation has increased, sohas the number of products that are available toconsumers.

Bathrooms serve the same fundamental needsthey always have. That’s not going to change.But the nuts and bolts of how bathroomsare designed and built are different and willcontinue to evolve.

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PLANNING

YOUR

BATHROOM

Smart bathroom design incorporates strategies

that save water and energy

and includes features that allow

homeowners to age in place.


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8 Planning Your Bathroom

Contemporary American bathrooms bear littleresemblance to the small, plain spaces that manybaby boomers grew up with. Just as houses—onaverage—have increased in size, so have most bath-rooms. As a culture, we expect more than we usedto: bigger, better, and more useful.

If you walked into a new master bath and founda sink, a toilet, and a 60-in. tub that doubled as a

shower, it might seem slightly inadequate even if ithad absolutely no functional shortcomings. It’s notunusual now to nd both a large soaking tub and awalk-in shower along with a double-sink vanity in amaster bath. You’ll nd bathrooms with replaces,bathrooms with chandeliers, and bathrooms withupholstered furniture and heavy drapes. Surfacesmight be tile, stone, or a man-made synthetic that

looks just like stone. Not everyone has a budget tosplurge on those kinds of luxuries, yet even whendesigns are more modest by necessity, there still is abroad range of plumbing xtures and building mate-rials to choose from.

Many of the decisions you’ll make about bathroomdesign come from how the space will be used: Is ita powder room on the rst oor used primarily byguests? A bath attached to an upstairs guest room? A child’s bath? A master bath? A bathroom thatwill be used by someone with diminished physicalcapabilities? These are all key questions becausethey guide the choice of materials, the allocation ofspace, and the selection of color, lighting, and otherdesign elements.

It doesn’t make much sense to choose delicate,water-sensitive materials for a bathroom to be usedby young children. Give them a space where theycan splash in the tub without worrying whetherthe oor gets wet. Conversely, there aren’t manyyoungsters who would send up a red ag when thevanity countertop is plastic laminate rather thanItalian marble.


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Planning Your Bathroom 9

above • When space allows, a custom shower and separate tub make acomplete bathroom. This one gets extra light from a bank of windows sethigh enough in the wall to preserve privacy.

facing page top • Wood paneling and trim details give thispowder room a formal feel, but a large mirror prevents thedark colors from feeling conning.

facing page bottom • A large soaking tub in its own nook canbe the centerpiece of a master bath when a splurge onmaterials and square footage is in the budget.


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The success of this bath is the limitednumber of colors that work together.Pale green tile gives this bathroom asoft iridescence, while the black tileborder complements the vanity base.


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facing page top • A large stone vanity topwith an undermount sink and an openbase provides plenty of storage withoutseeming visually overwhelming. A glassshower surround helps to keep the room

light and airy.

above left • Wallpaper adds an attractivesplash of color, especially when pairedwith a white tub and a light-colored oor.

left • Louvered shutters are one wayof adding light and ventilation to abathroom while preserving privacy.

Should You Be Your OwnGeneral Contractor? Most homeowners don’t have the skills torenovate a bathroom themselves, but it may betempting to act as your own general contractor.That means you’d nd and hire your own subcon-tractors rather than rely on a contractor to do itfor you. Unless you’re unusually well connectedand have above average technical knowledge,this isn’t a good idea.

Although it costs more to work through ageneral contractor, you’re getting the benet ofhis or her experience, access to skilled subcon-tractors, and knowledgeable oversight on thesite. Plus, you have a better chance of getting

the job done on schedule. For a strictly cosmeticoverhaul you may not need a general contractor.Laying tile, painting, and minor plumbing are allpossible for motivated (and skilled) homeownerslooking to save some money and enjoy theprocess. You can hire a plumber or electrician forthose jobs you know you’re not qualied to do.But when the job is anything more than minor,bring in a professional.


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Getting the Mostfrom a Tiny SpaceThe challenge in designing small bathrooms is ndingways to make these rooms seem larger than they reallyare while incorporating features the owners want.

In this Bellevue, Washington, bath, which measuresless than 56 sq. ft. overall, designer Debbi Cleary usedlight from a skylight and glass-block panels near the tubto enhance a sense of volume and openness. The glassblock ensures privacy while admitting a lot of light, andit has the additional advantage of diffusing light—theneighbor’s rust-color roof became a swirl of warm color,creating what Cleary calls “a soft intimacy.”

Frameless glass walls around the extra deep, 3-ft. by 5-ft.

soaking tub allow it to double as a shower while lettingnatural light ood the rest of the room.

Using a low-key, light color palette is one strategy to helpsmall spaces feel larger. Here, a simple range of colorsand materials unites the vanity with the shower so thatthe space ows smoothly.

P U T T I N G I T A L L T O G E T H E R

7 ft. 10 3 ⁄ 4 in.

4 ft. 6 in.

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far left • Natural light is abundant in this small bathroomthanks to a wall of glass block, frameless glass panelsaround the tub, and an overhead skylight.

left • A xture over the vanity directs light both up anddown, enhancing the volume of the room.

below • The glass-block panels admit light withoutsacricing privacy. The diffused patterns of lightreecting off a rust-colored roof nearby are a bonus.


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T H E E S S E N T I A L S

Hiring the Right PeopleIf you’ve decided to hire someone to renovate your bathroom, youmight choose a designer (or architect) plus a contractor or lookfor a builder who’s been trained in design as well as construction;these pros are often part of a rm called design/build. Some proshave degrees in architecture but have chosen to stay on the con-struction side of the business, making for a valuable combinationof skills.

ARCHITECTS• Architects are the most highly trained and able to handle the widest variety

of renovation problems, including structural repairs and alterations.

• Architects may charge a percentage of the overall project budget orby the hour.

• An architect may simply provide construction drawings or actually overseethe work as well.

• If the scope of the renovation seems to call for an architect, talk to severaland choose one whose work you like and who seems to understand your

budget and your objectives.

BUILDING CONTRACTORS/GENERAL CONTRACTORS• General contractors (GCs) hire subcontractors for specific parts of the job

while retaining overall responsibility for the work and scheduling.

• Meet with several prospective GCs and building contractors, not just the onerecommended by your neighbor or brother-in-law. Ask to see a portfolio oftheir work. Ask for references and take the time to make those calls.

• When you find a contractor you like, ask to see proof of liability insurance,get his or her license number and check that it’s valid, and request any otherdocumentation that may be required of contractors in your community.

• Do not start work without a s igned contract that spells out the scope ofthe work, when payments are to be made, and how change orders should behandled.

DESIGNERS• Hiring a professional designer might be a good idea if the remodel requires

extensive cosmetic changes, even moving walls, but doesn’t affect the basicstructure or appearance of the house.

• Find a designer who has been certified by the National Kitchen & BathAssociation. There are several levels of certification: associate, certified,and certified master designer (CMKBD). The last requires the most training,but designers at all levels must pass written exams and have formal designeducation.

• Designers will be able to offer advice for all phases of the renovation.

• Interior decorators (not the same thing as a designer) have different trainingand specialize in furnishings, paint, color, and other surface decorations.

• As with contractors, ask for references and portfolios.


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above • The simple glass splash guard helps to keep

water in check in this curbless shower, particularlysince the showerhead is centered in the space.

left • A full-width glass panel adds contemporaryair to this traditional-styled bath.


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An Entry Transition and a Central SpaceImprove a Bathroom

Separate alcoves for different functions give a bathroom aroomlike quality. A small transition space changes the feelof the room.

Whether you’re remodeling or building new, keep-ing a few basic design principles in mind can behelpful. Every family’s needs and every house are alittle different, so rather than simply copying a oorplan you’ve seen elsewhere and hoping it will workin your house, make use of design fundamentals tohelp you develop a oor plan that will work for you.

Some of these design strategies are based on ideas

found in the book A Pattern Language, by Christo-pher Alexander.

• Avoid layouts with more than one access door.

• Create an entrance alcove for a bathroom off ahallway to provide an added measure of privacy.

• A well-shaped bathroom is a square or a rectanglewhose length is not more than twice its width.

• Good bathrooms have a clear central area whereyou can wash off or dry off. Fixtures like the tuband toilet should be located in alcoves at the edgesof the room.

• Natural light is important. If the room can haveonly one window, locate it so it illuminates whatyou see when you rst enter the room.

• Use the “intimacy gradient” in designing a oorplan by locating the most private parts of the bath-room farthest from the door.

• If space permits, pair a master bath and a dress-ing room. Custom cabinets can combine openshelves, drawers, and hanging space that best suitindividual needs. Some manufacturers also offercabinetry that would be ideal for a dressing roomor walk-in closet with features such as a pull-outironing board and a pull-up door that hides aclothes iron and other supplies.

The Intimacy Gradient Applied to Bathrooms

The most intimate sections of a bathroom should be farthestfrom the door. In a small bath, use compartments with doors.


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Create a Dressing Room

above • A dressing area next to the bathborrows some light via a transom high onthe bathroom wall. Two-tiered hanging barssave space.

left • Renovations sometime permitbathroom expansions into an unused closetor utility room. A walk-in closet with bothopen shelves and drawers offers plenty ofstorage.

Consider all kinds of storage needs in the early stages of your newbathroom design. If space and budget allow, create an alcove or newroom adjacent to the bathroom for use as a walk-in dressing room. Openand closed shelves as well as drawers and rods of various sizes will makethe space most efcient.


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Making Design Accessible Although the principles of universal design havebeen slow to trickle into residential design, you canincorporate accessibility into a bathroom whetherremodeling or building new. Universal design princi-ples can make a house more comfortable for anyoneliving there, not just someone using a cane or wheel-chair or dealing with the inrmities of old age.

Because bathrooms are used so frequently and forsuch a variety of daily tasks, they are among the mostimportant spaces at home to design this way.

Universal design makes it easier for those who havebeen disabled or injured to take care of themselves.It also is a way of making bathrooms adaptable topeople as they get older and gradually become lesscapable physically, even to the point of helping thebathroom accommodate the homeowner plus a care-giver. Some bathroom features can be built so theyare convertible as needs change: a vanity whose topcan be lowered simply and quickly for someone in awheelchair, for example. But some features must beincorporated into the room when it’s built.

A shower without a threshold makes accesseasier for someone using a wheelchair, and ahandheld shower simplies bathing.


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Lessons in Designs That Accommodate Changes in LifeInjured in a freak bicycle accident in 1998, universal design

specialist Rosemarie Rossetti suddenly found herself living in ahouse that made daily life a trial. The second oor and basementof her two-story home were inaccessible and while modicationshelped, they were inadequate. In the end, she and her husbandMark began building a house they hope will be a national modelfor accessible design as well as their home, called the Universal

Design Living Laboratory.To both Leibrock and Rossetti, universal design is not about an

after-the-fact adaptation to disability; it is about planning for itsinevitability in a way that makes any home more appealing.

Thirty years ago, Cindy Leibrock was a disenchanted interiordesigner, nding fewer spiritual rewards in “making rich peoplelook richer.” Eventually she found a new calling with universaldesign. Later, Leibrock and her husband built a new house inLivermore, Colorado, that melded universal design with theprinciples of sustainable building.

After nishing up the house, her husband slipped on the

racquetball court, rupturing an Achilles tendon, and Leibrockwent in for a hip replacement. Virtually overnight, they facedcircumstances that normally would be life changing. Her doctorsuggested they check into a nursing home until they werewell enough to maneuver around their own home, but theirforethought in incorporating universal design into their plansmade that unnecessary. They recuperated at home.

above • This shower stall is ideal for children as wellas those who need to sit while bathing, thanks to thelower-than-normal niche for toiletries plus the showercontrols and handheld sprayer being located in thecenter of the wall.

left • A bathroom without visual barriers seems openand inviting, even when the space is relatively small.


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Larger Showers for Assistance with Bathing

A Layout that Allows Room for Maneuvering

ALLOW ENOUGH ROOM Wheelchairs and walkers need extra maneuvering room, soone of the rst objectives should be to make doorways, show-ers, and oor plans generous enough to handle them.

The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina StateUniversity has developed a number of useful recommenda-tions and sample oor plans for bathrooms, many of which areavailable for free online.

Some of the layout basics include the following:

• Make doorways 36 in. wide, with no threshold.

• Provide a 60-in.-diameter turning space and 30-in. by 48-in.clear oor space at each xture (clear spaces can overlapeach other).

• Make a 36-in. clear space in front of and to one side of the

toilet.• Make lavatory countertops at least 32 in. high with a 29-in.-

high knee space. It’s ne to make the knee hole accessiblewith removable panels or folding doors, but hot-water linesshould be covered to prevent burns.

• The shower should be a minimum of 3 ft. by 5 ft.

• Leave a minimum clear zone of 1 ft. 6 in. between the edgeof the counter and the door opening.

• Make sure the shower is equipped with an antiscald mix-ing valve or a programmable control that allows the batherto set the temperature accurately before venturing into theshower.

• Position tub and shower controls so they are within easyreach of someone in a wheelchair rather than centered overthe tub. The same goes for electrical outlets and switches.

• Consider a handheld shower that can be reached from aseated position, which is easier for someone in a wheelchairto use.

• Install a toilet that is compliant with the Americans withDisabilities Act (ADA). It will have a seat height of between15 in. and 19 in., a good “transfer height” for someone in awheelchair.

A 5-ft. by 5-ft. curbless shower provides space so an attendantcan assist with bathing and allows a wheelchair user to turnaround within the shower.

Side

B a c

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Side

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8 f t

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r e c o m m e n

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d 36-in. by 60-in.curbless (roll-in) shower

Reinforcing for grab bars must be provided.

36- in. by 60-in. clear oor space for toilet

8 ft. 10 in. min. recommended

3 ft. 0 in. preferred;2 ft. 6 in. min. knee space

30-in. by 48-in.clear oor spacefor lavatory

5 ft. min.

3 f t

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Making a Bathroom Safe and Convenient When thinking about accessibility, it’s important to think ahead and think broadly. Thebathroom here was designed for someone in a wheelchair, but it could just as easily be

found in the home of people without disabilities.

right • Providing lots of room around the toilet,along with a handheld shower installed at a

comfortable height, makes bathing much easier.

left and below • In this bathroom designed byUniversal Design specialist Cindy Leibrock,conventional barriers have been eliminated. Thefront panel in the vanity can be removed, allowingsomeone in a wheelchair to use the sink. Anyexposed hot-water lines should be covered toprevent burns.


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REMOVE OBSTRUCTIONSDoor thresholds make navigating a wheelchairdifcult. In fact, any abrupt change in oor heightis an impediment to a wheelchair and a potentialtrip hazard for someone with reduced motor skills.Remove rugs from the room as well (unless theycan be installed so the edges are ush with the restof the oor).

If a threshold is a mere inconvenience, the curb on aconventional shower is a virtual roadblock. Curblessshowers are designed without a lip at the entranceso a wheelchair can roll right in. Sloping the oortoward the drain keeps the water where it belongs.

above • Although narrow, this bathroom has a curbless showerwith a handheld shower, plus a vanity area with an open spacebelow for easy access.


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The Practicalities of a Curbless Shower

Handheldshowerhead onslide mount

Diverter valve or

additional control valvefor handheld shower

Fixed showerhead inconventional location

Whole wallreinforcingallows grabbars to bemountedvertically andin a varietyof other

locations.

Control valveoffset towardshower opening(antiscaldrecommended)

Continuousor equivalent

separatehorizontal grabbars at code-complyinglocations

Flush threshold

Waterproofmembraneextends undernished oor.

Drain withweep holes

Dropped and/orresized oor joists

Dropped suboor

Consider using marine-grade plywood and/or cementitious backerboardto further protect the building structure from water inltration.

Mortar setting bed

Smaller-sizenonslip oortiles for bettertraction

Waterproofmembraneextendsup wall.

Whole wallplywoodreinforcing

60-in.-long(min.) hose(72 in.recommended)

Recessed soaptrays and ledgesdo not obstructgrab bars.

left • A pedestal sink is more convenient than a standard vanity forsomeone in a wheelchair. A better option, though, is a vanity with acompletely open face.


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INSTALL GRAB BARSGrab bars provide welcome stability for someonewhose balance is a little off, someone recoveringfrom an injury, or a child who may need an extrahandhold. The time to start thinking about themis before any nished walls go in. Grab bars andanything that might temporarily serve as a grab bar—including towel racks and toilet paper holders—must

be solidly anchored to wall framing.Solid blocking between studs should be provided atheights where these accessories will be mounted. Aneven better approach is to install a continuous layerof 3 ⁄ 4-in. plywood beneath the drywall, allowing solidpoints of attachment wherever they are needed inthe future.

In keeping with her effort to keep designs exible,universal design specialist Cindy Leibrock (see thesidebar on p. 21) installed a pair of removable grabbars anking the toilet in her bathroom (see thephotos on the facing page). They can be installedin a few minutes, without tools, by popping off twowall tiles. When the bars aren’t needed, they can beremoved and the tiles put back in place. The conver-sion is fast and easy.

In addition to the more conventional horizontaltype, consider vertical grab bars near the toilet andin the shower. They’re especially handy for men folktrying to use the facilities.

An overhead track and sling can be used to movea person from the toilet to the tub. When the slingisn’t needed, it can easily be slipped off the end ofthe track and put away.

If you’re planning on staying in your home and wantsome help making alterations that will make it eas-ier, consider contacting a Certied Aging-in-PlaceSpecialist, or CAP, through the National Associationof Home Builders (www.nahb.org/aginginplace).

above • Double-wide

doors and the lack ofa threshold are goodstart toward making thisbathroom accessible for awheelchair. The high tuband conventional vanity,however, are drawbacks.

left • This ceiling-mountedsling can take someonefrom tub to toilet. Whennot in use, the sling can beremoved from the track andstowed away.


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above • An assist when you need it: A sturdy rail can be attached to a wall-mounted plate in seconds.When not in use, the rail pivots up and out of the way. It can be removed entirely, with the mountingplate concealed by a tile.


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right • While pine ooring dominates oneend of the room, the other is nishedin marble. The color palette is simpleand understated.

Handicapped-Accessible with an Old-Fashioned FeelThe master bath in this oceanfront house in Cape Elizabeth,Maine, was part of a ground-up rebuild guided by strict propertyand water setbacks as well as limits on how much of the propertycould be covered with impervious materials. The owner, asingle woman with an extended family, wanted the bath

to be handicapped-accessible and to have a tub with a viewof the ocean.

With those parameters in mind, this narrow bath was designed tomake every inch count.

The vanity is centered on one wall, with the soaking tub on theocean side of the room and the handicapped-accessible showeron the other. Access to the master bedroom is via a pocket door

that will rarely be closed.“The owner came with antique family furnishings and a strongidea that the décor of the house should be neutral in color andlled with natural light, to show off views of the ocean and skyfrom every room,” says architect John Whipple. Those designgoals are reected in the new bathroom, with large windows atone end for light and views, recycled southern pine ooring nearthe tub, and an antique framed mirror over the vanity.

At the opposite end of the room, the oor and shower surroundare nished in marble. The oor of the easy-access shower ispebbled, providing good traction as well as an interesting colorand texture contrast.

Although the color choices at rst seemed overly neutral, they’vecreated a room that feels summery and bright regardless of thetime of year.


Laundryroom

Master closetMaster bedroom

Master bath


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above • A new master bath in this Maine oceanfront house includes a largetub with stunning water views. Recycled pine ooring helps to give thebath an old-fashioned avor.

above • With a mainly white-and-black backdrop,

the wood mirror frame is a detail that standsout clearly.

above • The oor in the shower area is marble whilethe shower oor itself is small river rock for anappealing color contrast and good traction when wet.


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Managing Energyand Water Costs A key principle of green building is resource con-servation, which boils down to reducing waste andinefciencies wherever possible. Even if you have nointerest in building a home that will be eligible forcertication under one of several green building pro-grams, water conservation inevitably leads to energyconservation. Both are attractive.

Saving water does not have to mean either discom-fort or added costs. Houses designed for efcientwater use can be easier and more comfortable to livein, as well as less expensive to operate.

There are two basic strategies for using less water:choosing toilets, faucets, and showerheads that useless (for more on this, see Chapters 2 and 3), andmaking basic design choices in your plumbingsystem to minimize waste.

For the most part, a smart plumbing design issomething built into the house, not somethingthat’s easy to do later unless oors and ceilings are

removed--not your average weekend do-it-yourself(DIY) project. But new construction presents manyopportunities, such as opting for a “home run” distri-bution system over a more conventional trunk-and-branch layout for supply lines. Running a separatesupply line to each xture or outlet minimizes heatloss, speeds delivery of hot water, and consequentlymeans less waste.

Another systems approach is a hot-water circulationsystem, which can be plumbed into an existing bath-room as well as built into a new one at a relativelylow cost. This system eliminates the wait for hotwater at shower and sink.


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In addition to saving water, good plumbing designalso saves energy. Something as simple as insulatinghot-water lines between the water heater and eachpoint of use will make a difference. More complexstrategies, such as a drain-water heat recovery, costmore initially but also can reduce hot-water costssubstantially.

Reusing gray water (what goes down the drain aftera shower or from a washing machine) also holdspromise for using less water. While gray water isn’tpotable, it’s not especially dirty either, and it can be

used for watering the lawn or garden or for ushingtoilets—providing that local plumbing codes allow itand your plumber knows how to set it up.

All of these things are worth discussing with yourplumber when you’re building new or undertakinga major bathroom remodel. You’ll nd that takingrelatively simple steps while the house is under con-struction may pay dividends down the road.

When privacy isn’t an issue, large windows in the shower

let in a great deal of light and make it seem as if you’reshowering outdoors.

A full-length vanity top with two integrated sinks is agreat feature in a busy bathroom. Pull-out steps makeit easier for children to wash up and brush their teeth.


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FIXTURESFixtures are the workhorses of the bathroom, but they can

add style as well as functionality. Even the humble toilet can make

an aesthetic contribution to the room.


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34 Fixtures

Sinks A perfectly serviceable bathroom sink made fromvitreous china can be had at any home center forabout $50, maybe less. It will be plain in design andwhite in color, and it will likely last for many years.However, if your tastes wander toward the more exot-ic, there is no shortage of options. Like tubs, toilets,and other bathroom xtures, sinks now run the stylis-tic gamut in a corresponding wide array of materials.

In addition to cost, there are three other consider-ations: how the sink is installed, what it’s made from,and what kind of aesthetic role it’s destined to play inoverall bathroom design.

There are ve basic sink congurations: those thatdrop into the top of the vanity (called self-rimming),those that are mounted from below, freestandingconsoles or pedestals, wall-mounted sinks, and sinksthat sit on top of the counter, usually called “vessel”sinks, a trademark of the Kohler Co., but made bymany other companies.

The material a sink is manufactured from doesmake a difference, but not a lot. There are, practi-

cally speaking, no functional differences between a$2,000 hammered copper basin and the $50 lavatoryfrom your local home center. Basic vitreous china isdurable and easy to keep clean, and for those reasonsis a good choice. But metal, stone, wood, glass, andsolid-surface sinks are alternatives. Some are harderto maintain than others, and most are more expen-sive than a simple china drop-in.

A bathroom sink can be a centerpiece of the room’sdesign or simply a basin for washing and brushingyour teeth. Deciding what you want the sink to do isa good rst step.

This large console sink offers more countertop storagefor toiletries than a pedestal sink, and its shaped legscomplement an old-fashioned décor.


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Fixtures 35

above left • A vessel sink with amatching tile backsplash andwall-mounted faucets comple-ments a house built in the

Southwestern style.

above right • There’s no rule thatsays a sink has to be white. Thisundermount commands attentioneven though its unobtrusive.

left • A counter and sink formedas a single component areattractively contemporary andmuch easier to keep clean than aconventional drop-in sink.


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Fixtures 37

left • Self-rimming sinks areset in a cutout in the vanitytop. Although they typicallyare economical, they canpotentially leak around the rim.

below left • While ovalself-rimming sinks arecommonplace, there are othershapes to choose from, like thisowerlike sink.

below • This simple self-rimmingsink is a solid low-cost choicefor a child’s bath, whereaesthetic expectations areprobably a bit relaxed.


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Placing two pedestal sinksnext to each other is analternative to the double-bowl vanity that hasbecome so common.

PEDESTALS AND CONSOLESPedestal sinks take up very little oor area, andthey’re also easy to clean because they’re typicallycast as a single unit without joints or seams.

A small pedestal sink is ideal for a powder room,where it’s used mostly for hand washing. But unlessit’s unusually large, a pedestal sink is not such a greatchoice in a busy, everyday bathroom. Without a

countertop or any undercounter storage, there’s verylittle room for a hairbrush, toothbrush, hair dryers,and all the other things that nd their way into thebathroom. Extra storage in the form of a medicinecabinet or cupboard will have to be provided. Eventhen, where do you park the shaving cream in themorning?

Console sinks are a variation on the theme, with legsmade of metal or china supporting the basin insteadof a single pedestal. A towel rack can be worked intothe frame, giving consoles a slight edge over pedes-tals in convenience, and some consoles come withfairly large surfaces around the sink. Smaller modelshave the same advantages and drawbacks as a pedes-tal design: easier to clean than some other sink types,perhaps, but lacking storage.

In addition to being one-piece china xtures, con-soles can combine other materials—a wood or stonecounter surface with a self-rimming or undermountsink, for example.


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above • Pedestal sinks take up very little oor space, and whenpaired with nearby storage, their small surrounds aren’t muchof a drawback.

above right • Exposed bracing on the frame of this sleek,contemporary console can be used for a wash cloth orhand towel.

right • Although console sinks often evoke an old-timearchitectural style, they also can be contemporary in shapeand color.


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40 Fixtures

UNDERMOUNTSUndermounts are attached to the bottom of the counter sur-face with metal clips and sealed with caulk. When installedcorrectly, there’s virtually no chance of a leak at the rim, andthe vanity top is a breeze to clean because there’s no sink rimto get in the way. From a design point of view, undermountsare understated and unobtrusive.

They’re ideal for many countertop choices—stone, concrete,

and other monolithic surfaces—and not so good for others. It’sno doubt possible to mount one to a laminate counter, but notwithout a good deal of effort. So if you’re going with laminate,better to pick another style.

Solid-surface undermounts can be glued directly to the coun-ter for a completely seamless installation with no chance ofcollecting grime between sink and counter. That’s a plus inthe kitchen and works to the same advantage in the bathroom,as long as you like the material. One-piece sink countertopsalso are available at home centers.

above • Sinks don’t have to be of a single color. Manufactured and hand-painteddesigns are widely available in a variety of custom and stock designs.


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Fixtures 41

right • Undermount sinks ina plain color let the textureand color of the countertopdominate.

facing page left • Paired witha graceful single-stemfaucet, this rectangularundermount looks clean

and contemporary. facing page right • Under-mount sinks are a modernadaptation, but periodfaucets, a marble vanitytop, and the demilunevanity give this bathroomold-school charm.


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42 Fixtures

WALL-MOUNTED SINKSWall-mounted sinks have the same pros and consas pedestals, with one obvious difference. Becausethere’s nothing touching the oor, cleaning is muchsimpler. Wall-mounts also share the same disadvan-tage, namely a lack of storage for cosmetics and toi-letries. They make the most sense in a guest bath orpowder room where they’re not taking the full bruntof daily use.

Large, old-fashioned wall-mounts lend a great avorto a period home or farmhouse, but they also areavailable in a number of more contemporary styles.They range from sinks suited for a corner installationto those with the faucet mount on the side to cuttheir intrusion into the room to a bare minimum.Some even come with a shelf below the bowl for

storing hand towels or soap.

above • This contemporary wall-hung sink takes up very little room,and it offers just enough of a countertop for a powder room.


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44 Fixtures

top • Because wall-mounted faucets don’t sit on the countertop, there is more deckingavailable for toiletries. However, these kinds of faucets require early conversations withyour plumber or builder to ensure their placement can be accommodated.

above • Above-counter sinks are available in a variety of shapes, colors, styles, andmaterials and can be paired with contemporary or period decors.

ABOVE-COUNTER SINKSThe trendy above-counter sink is a stylistic throw-back to an age when indoor plumbing amounted toa basin atop a bureau or side table, in other wordspre-modern plumbing. But there’s nothing outdatedabout the look now.

Above-counter sinks are available in glass, stone,bronze, and vitreous china, as well as a range of

prices, so they should be able to t most designschemes and budgets. They can be paired withsurface-mounted faucets (make sure the neck of thefaucet is tall enough) or faucets that pop directly outof the wall.

There are a couple of practical things to keep inmind if you’re leaning in this direction. First andforemost, you’ll need to do more advance planning. Above-counter sinks come in many heights, andyou’ll need those specs to set the counter height ofthe vanity. And if you want in-the-wall plumbing, itwill take careful coordination with your builder orplumbing contractor. He’ll need the exact location ofthe sink before roughing in supply lines and drains.

above • Above-counter sinks are reminiscent of the washbasinswidely used in days before indoor plumbing.


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Because all of the sink is abovecountertop height, vanityheight may have to be adjusted.


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46 Fixtures

top • Wood countertops, while not as common as stone, solid surface,or laminate, make excellent vanity tops, providing they are nishedcarefully and the nish is maintained.

above • Stone and manufactured stone, which is mostly quartz, makedurable, attractive countertops and are available in many colors andpatterns.

CountertopsThe green building boom has added considerably tothe repertoire of bathroom countertop options. Oldfavorites include tile, stone and stone composites,solid surface, plastic laminate, concrete, and wood. Tothat, you may now add a variety of countertops madefrom recycled materials, such as glass and paper.

No matter what the material, the choice still boilsdown to a few issues: durability, how much main-tenance the surface requires, price, and compat-ibility with other features in the room. And the rightbalance of features varies depending on where thecounter gets installed. In a bathroom used mainlyby children, you’d be wise to pick something thatcleans up easily, wears well, and doesn’t cost toomuch. Plastic laminate or solid surface are two goodoptions. In a high-budget master bathroom wherematerials are carefully orchestrated, it’s unlikelyplastic laminate would be your rst choice, despiteits many practical advantages. A powder room usedmostly by guests is a good place to splurge on acountertop with lots of visual appeal: a special pieceof stone or a striking piece of highly gured wood. You’re not installing much of it, so the cost persquare foot isn’t an overwhelming factor. You canafford to make a good impression on your visitors.

In addition to the price of materials, there is the laborof fabrication and installation. Some counters (wood,plastic laminate, and recycled paper) can be cut andshaped on-site. That can result in some dollar andtime savings over such materials as stone, recycled

glass, and concrete, all of which must be fabricatedwith special equipment in a shop off-site (and whichalso can be cut incorrectly). With this in mind, besure to do your research on fabricators and installers.


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far left • Countertopscan be integrated withthe backsplash tomake a pleasing whole.Here, mosaic tile is aninteresting counterpoint toa monolithic vanity top.

left • Because stone isavailable in long blanks,it can be manufacturedinto a seamless countertopeven on a double-vanity.Undermount sinks give

the installation a crisp,contemporary look.

below • A dark, texturedcountertop complementsthe cherry vanity.


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48 Fixtures

Stone is an excellent countertop material, but most types ofstone should be sealed to prevent stains.

The list of green materials being used to fabricate

countertops is surprisingly long. “Green” means thematerial helps to save energy or natural resources(or both), that it has no ill effects on health, andthat in mining, manufacturing, or harvesting it thereis a minimal impact on the environment. If you’rebuilding a house to the standards of Leadership inEnergy and Environmental Design (LEED), select-ing countertops with high recycled content wins youpoints that count toward certication. But the truthis, many of these newer materials are just plain inter-esting as well as attractive.

IceStoneSM, BioGlassSM, EnviroSLAB™, Vetrazzo®,and several other companies, for example, makecounters out of recycled glass in a good selection ofsnazzy colors. PaperStone® and Eco-Top™ coun-tertops are made from recycled paper, and a com-

pany called Alkemi combines aluminum scrap andpolyester resin to make a really striking countertop.Craft-Art makes counters in end-grain bamboo. Therevival of linoleum, which is slowly reemerging fromthe shadow of sheet vinyl, means more suppliers andinstallers. All of these materials may be attractivewhether you’re trying to be environmentally con-scious or just looking for something unique.

Concrete is another option that has steadily gainedground in the bathroom as well as the kitchen.Because of its growing popularity, there are morefabricators than even a few years ago. Concrete canbe cast into virtually any shape and enlivened withembedded objects and dyes for a highly custom look.If you go this route, make sure you get a seasoned fab-ricator and ask to see samples of his or her work; thereis a learning curve in working with this material.


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Fixtures 49

top • Concrete makes a very durable countertop, but like stone, it must besealed to keep out water and stains.

above • Keeping a vanity top in the same color group as the rest of the roomhelps unify the space. Here, a low-key vanity top lets the proles of the vanityface stand out.



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50 Fixtures

Countertop MaterialsLAMINATE$

• Excellent choice for a child’s bath.• Enormous variety of colors and patterns available, including

realistic wood and stone.• One of the lowest-cost options available.• Nonporous, easy to clean, and waterproof.

• Not suitable for undermount sinks because of exposed edgesat sink opening.

• Need to maintain caulk around edges to protect substratefrom water.

WOOD$-$$

• Great variety in wood tones and figure.• Can be fabricated with ordinary carpentry tools, making

customizing simple.• Some wood species are naturally resistant to moisture

damage, but maintaining the finish is key to avoiding waterspots or worse.

• Can be used with any sink type.• If you want to go the green route, specify wood certified

by the Forest Stewardship Council.

TILE$-$$

• Ample variety in sizes and colors to fit just about anydesign theme.

• Easy to customize by mixing different colors and sizes of tile.• Ceramic tile is nonporous and nonstaining but grout isn’t, so

it will need to be sealed

• Can be integrated with a tile backsplash.• Surface is tough on glassware and other breakables.• Damaged tiles can be removed and replaced (just remember

to order a few extra and tuck them away).

RECYCLED-CONTENT MATERIALS

$-$$$• Visually interesting and available in a wide range of colors.

• Recycled content is helpful when seeking green certification.• Recycled glass counters with cement binders should be sealed

to avoid stains.• Some types of glass counters must be fabricated with

specialized equipment.

SOLID SURFACE$$

• Plenty of patterns and colors to choose from.• Nonstaining, easy to maintain, and waterproof.• Integral sink bowl an option for a seamless, easy-to-clean

installation.

• Minor surface damage can be sanded out.• Visually not as warm as wood, tile, and other nonplastic

materials.

STONE COMPOSITES$$

• Quartz and resin combinations are nonporous and imperviousto water.

• Better stain resistance than natural stone and concrete.

• Many colors and patterns are available from severalmanufacturers.

• Fabricated like stone.

• Very hard and durable.

CONCRETE$$-$$$

• Can be cast into any shape and easily customized.• Can be treated with dyes and other surface treatments.

• Hard and durable.• The number of local fabricators increasing.• Surface can develop hairline cracks and will stain if not sealed.

• Thick concrete counters are heavy, so plan cabinetryaccordingly.

NATURAL STONE$$-$$$

• Lots of colors and patterns are available, and some kinds ofstone are now sold in home-improvement centers, making it moreaffordable.

• Must be fabricated in specialized shops.• Most natural stone should be sealed to keep out stains.• Suitable for all sink types.


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Fixtures 51

above • Choosing a countertop material that can be fabricated intolong, unbroken spans eliminates seams, a cosmetic advantage.

above left • When the countertop is made from the same material asthe wainscoting, different parts of the room blend together nicely.The color choice on the wall above the sink is an effective contrastwith the light-colored marble.

left • An extra-thick counter gives this vanity mass. The heavydesign of the wallpaper as well as the wood-edged mirrorcomplement its weightiness.

G d Lif l



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52 Fixtures

Grand LifestyleMeets ModernRealities A 1920s stone house in the heart of Philadelphiahad been built for a grand lifestyle, but the uninvit-ing attic spaces, storage rooms, and closets on thethird oor held little appeal for its contemporaryowners.

Their plans were to rework this oor—what hadbeen the servants’ wing—to provide more familyrecreational space, and that meant opening up acramped staircase and nding a new spot for thebathroom. Plans could not include disrupting eitherthe stone façade of the house or its clay tile roof.

Space for the new bathroom was found in an exist-ing T-shape closet located above the front entrance.The room came with a dormer and a casementwindow and did not require the addition of any dor-mers or bump-outs. The trick, however, was ttinga shower, toilet, sink, and storage space within theintersecting angles of the roof. Krieger + Associates Architects found enough room in one arm of the Tfor a shower stall and located the toilet in the other.

The shower enclosure is nished with 41 ⁄ 4-in.-squarewhite tiles. The center of the room got heart pineoors, beadboard wainscoting, a marble vanity shelf,and a period-style pedestal sink. A custom radiatorcover matches those in the rest of the house.

A narrow shelf next to the window serves as a vanity top. The custom radiator covermatches those in the rest of the house.

4 ft. 10 1 ⁄ 4 in.

3 f t

. 1 0

i n .

1 2

f t .

4 i n

.

6 ft. 2 1 ⁄ 2 in.

4 ft.

4 f t .

1 i n

.


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Fixtures 53

above • The central area of this small bathroom is anked by two niches,one for a shower and another for a toilet. Heart pine ooring gives the

room warmth.

above left • In the one arm of the room’s T-shape layout, designers addedthe toilet, complete with a door for privacy.

left • A shower tucked into the other arm of a T-shape bathroom isnished in white tile to keep the space bright and appealing.


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54 Fixtures

right • More contemporary in style, a monoblockincorporates the spout and control in a single unit.

FaucetsTo some extent, the choice of a faucet is dictated by thetype of sink it will be partnered with. Pedestal or drop-in sinks typically come with holes along the back edgefor mounting the faucet, and the distance between theholes determines the range of faucets that will t. Above-counter sinks and undermounts often come without anyholes, opening up more possibilities. Because there are

so many variations in both sinks and faucets, it’s a goodidea to shop for them at the same time. You may ndjust the right faucet but not a sink that will accommo-date it—better to learn that before the plumber arrives.

Among the most common types of faucets are centerset,widespread, wall-mounted, and monoblock (or single-hole) faucets.

Centersets have the spouts and one or two handles tocontrol water ow on a shared base. They’re compact, sothey’re well suited to small sinks and tight spaces.

Widespread faucets have individual control handlesfor hot and cold water and a separate one for the spout.They’re for sinks with three holes on the back rim orfor undermounts or above-counter sinks without holeswhen the faucet is mounted directly on the deck.

Wall-mounted faucets come with one or two controlhandles and are mounted directly behind or to the sideof the sink. They’re a little more complicated to installbecause all of the plumbing is buried in the wall, butthey have the advantage of making it easier to cleanaround the sink.

In monoblock faucets, everything is housed in a singlecomponent. They require only a single hole in the sinkor countertop.

above • Centerset faucets combine the faucets with a central spout. They can bevery compact.


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Fixtures 55

above • Wall-mounted faucets come in a variety ofcontemporary styles.

above • In a widespread faucet, the faucets and spout are allseparate pieces, better for larger sinks and counter installations.

above • Wall-mount faucets facilitate cleaning around the sink. Combined with an above-counter sink, they’re very stylish, but make sure to plan ahead for in-wall plumbing.

Faucet nishes run the gamut from polished chrome or brass to


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56 Fixtures

above • When choosing a deck-mounted faucet for an above-countersink, make sure its reach is enough to clear the lip of the sink.

right • With little room to spare in this guest bath, wall-mountedfaucets are ideal. The frame-mounted sink and faucet combination is acontemporary departure from a more conventional pedestal sink.

g pbrushed nickel and bronze. A process called physical vapordeposition (PVD) makes a more wear-resistant surface than con-ventional electroplating. The overall design of the bathroom,including xture selection, walls, and countertop material, willhelp guide faucet selection. But in general, brushed or ham-mered surfaces don’t show ngerprints and water spots as readilyas polished chrome or brass.

It’s entirely possible to spend a small fortune on a faucet for the

sink, but at a certain point you’re paying for aesthetics, not func-tion. Cheap faucets are nothing but a headache, but it isn’t neces-sary to break the bank to get a well-made faucet that will providemany years of trouble-free service. Look for all-metal construc-tion, a PVD nish, and a valve design that doesn’t use washers,such as a ceramic disc valve.

above • This monoblock faucet and sculptural wall-mounted sink make fora clean, uncluttered look.


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Fixtures 57

Pairing a slab-like sink/vanity with a curvingfaucet is an attractive detail in this otherwiseSpartan bath.

D E S I G N G A L L E R Y


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58 Fixtures

FaucetsThe type of sink you choose helps dictate the type of faucet, but

regardless of category, the range of finishes and styles for faucets

is significant. Look for an all-metal design with a PVD finish.

1

2

3


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Fixtures 59

4

5

1. A deck mounted monoblock faucet is sleek, contemporary,and a good match for an above-counter sink. 2. Wide-spreadfaucets are appropriate for sinks with three holes in the rimor for undermount sinks,where holes can be bored anywherein the counter. 3. Period-style faucets are readily availablein a variety of traditional nishes, such as polished chromeand nickel. 4. The contrast between a blocky, rectangularsink and a gooseneck faucet spout is interesting, and raisingthe height of the spout makes washing up a little moreconvenient. 5. Wall-mounted faucets eliminate clutter onthe countertop or sink bib and facilitate cleaning.


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60 Fixtures

top • What manufacturers call “comfort height” toilets were originallydesigned to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

above • In a basic two-piece toilet, castings clearly show the curved shapes ofinternal passageways, but in more contemporary designs, the outside of thebase is smoothly contoured. A toilet like this is easier to clean.

ToiletsToilets, the most fundamental of all bathroom xtures, haveundergone something of a revolution in the last few years.Beginning with a federal edict in 1995 that a toilet use no morethan 1.6 gallons per ush (gpf), the industry has steadily rampedup performance with more efcient designs while loweringwater consumption. The result is a wide selection of low-owxtures that actually work they way they’re supposed to.

When building new or renovating, homeowners may betempted to rely on the advice of only their plumbing contrac-tor when it comes to what brand or model of toilet to install.But plumbers sometimes pick brands they’re familiar with orbuy through a supplier that only stocks toilets from certainmanufacturers.

It can be tough to work up a lot of enthusiasm for choosing

a toilet when glass tile, hand-painted sinks, and soaking tubsare beckoning. But given the number of times a toilet is usedevery day (Toto estimates that everyone in the house will ushve times), it makes more sense to knuckle down and do alittle research.

BASIC VS. SPECIAL-ASSIST TOILETS

The basic toilet in America is a gravity-fed two-piece xturemade from vitreous china. It consists of a bowl that’s bolted tothe oor and a tank that’s bolted to the bowl. It’s assembled bythe plumber on-site, and it uses the federally required 1.6 gpf.

This type of toilet is all that most of us need, but there areother types to choose from, including dual-ush, pressure-assist,and macerating toilets. These special-purpose toilets sometimesare a better choice, either from a functional or an aestheticpoint of view (for more on these toilets, see pp. 62–63).

One-piece toilets are cast as a single piece of china. They tendto be less bulky and have a lower prole than conventional two-piece designs. But from a performance standpoint they don’twork any better, and they are more expensive. They do haveone advantage: they’re easier to clean. With no seam betweentank and bowl, there are fewer places for debris to collect.


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Fixtures 61

Testing PerformanceManufacturers have solved design problems that plagued early low-owtoilets, and now consumers have a way of checking on performance beforethey buy. A testing protocol called Maximum Performance testing (MaP)checks performance, and results are readily available online. The programcurrently lists performance data for more than 1,400 toilets, and results areupdated every four to six months.

Testers use soybean paste encased in a thin latex membrane in weights

up to 1,000 grams to simulate real-world performance. Toilets are listed bymanufacturer and model name, so it’s easy to check on a xture a plumbermight be recommending. Toilets that meet federal WaterSense standards(1.28 gallons per ush) and ADA-compliant xtures are also agged.

To see the report, go to www.allianceforwaterefciency.org.

above • A one-piece toilet has fewer seams than a conventional two-piecedesign, making bathroom maintenance a little easier. Typically, however,this type of toilet is more expensive than the standard two-piece.

top • Toilets sometimes don’t look like toilets, as is the casewith the iconic Kohler Hatbox®. Sleeker, unconventional designsare well suited to contemporary bathrooms.

above • Low-prole toilets have a contemporary look.


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Fixtures 63

Wall-mountedtoilets are lessbulky thanconventionaldesigns becausethe water tankis buried in thewall. Plumbingand installation,however, are morecomplex.

Toilets That Save


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64 Fixtures

Dual-ush toilets have two ush options, one for solid waste andanother for liquid. These water-saving toilets have been standardin Europe for years.

WaterManufacturers have long since adapted to the 1.6 gpf rule andhave gone on to design toilets that use 20 percent less water, or1.28 gpf. These are called high-efciency toilets and meet theEnvironmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense guidelines.

The savings can be signicant. Using Toto’s ve-ush-per-day guideline and an average household of 3.2 people, aWaterSense toilet will save more than 1,800 gallons of watereach year.

High-efciency toilets are likely to become the new standardover time. Legislation passed in California will require themto be phased in over time with a switch to 1.28 gpf designsby 2014.

Another approach to cutting water consumption is with adual-ush toilet, which uses a 1.6-gallon ush for solid wasteand 1 gallon or less for liquid waste. Dual-ush toilets arecommon in Europe, Asia, and Australia, and they make a lotof sense. But the toilets start with less water in the bowl thanconventional models, and anecdotally you will hear they don’talways clean themselves as efciently.

The ultimate water-saving toilet is one that doesn’t use anywater at all. The Clivus Multrum, developed by a Swedishengineer in 1939, was the rst commercialized compostingtoilet, but there are now more contemporary models that look,more or less, like any other toilet and require no bulky com-posting chamber below the oor.

The BioLet 10, for example, uses no water, has no septichookup, and is designed for full-time use by a household of

three people (other models can handle larger crowds). Wastebiodegrades quickly thanks to a fan that circulates air throughthe xture and a thermostatically controlled heater thattogether reduce the waste volume by more than 90 percentand turns it into humus you empty every couple of months.Nonelectric models also are available. In both types, positiveair ow controls odor.

Composting toilets are an obvious choice where a standardtoilet is impractical, either because water is that scarce orbecause conventional waste disposal isn’t available. Yet thecompact design and nonthreatening aesthetics make them aviable choice in an everyday bathroom, too. What you save inwater bills, however, will be somewhat offset by costs: the Bio-Let retails for about $1,800.


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Fixtures 65

above • High-efciency toilets, like this one made by American

Standard, don’t look any different than a conventional toilet, butthey use a lot less water.

right • Composting toilets break down waste naturally. Moderndesigns control odor effectively.

Urinals and Bidets


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above right • Toto has combined the functions of a toilet and abidet in a single unit.

right • Installing a bidet next to the toilet is the height ofpracticality, at least in a bathroom with enough oor space toaccommodate them.

It’s been several years sinceThe New York Times broke the news that urinals were becoming increas-ingly common in high-end bathrooms. If that hasn’tamounted to a tidal wave of interest, urinals may yetcatch on simply because they’re so practical.

Urinals also are a lot more interesting visually thanwhat you’ll nd in public restrooms. Philip WattsDesign, Villeroy & Boch, Duravit, and Kohler offercontemporary designs. Urinals use less water thaneven a dual-ush toilet; waterless models also areavailable from several manufactures.

BIDETS A mistake involving proper use of a bidet produceda memorable scene in Henry Miller’sTropic ofCancer , but it’s understandable given the slowacceptance outside Europe of this French invention.Bidets are still the exception rather than the rule in American bathrooms, but they are more useful andpractical than many give them credit for.

A bidet is a low basin where you can wash up after

using the toilet. They’re useful for both men andwomen, and they’re available in a variety of stylesfrom most major xture manufacturers.

Bidets are often installed next to the toilet, so theyare not practical for very small bathrooms. Butwhere there is enough oor space, they’re a sensibleaddition.


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Fixtures 67

above • Urinals are a single-genderxture, but they help to keepbathrooms cleaner, especially if thereare young boys in the house.

above left • Toilet/bidet combinationscan be very contemporary in design.

left • While still uncommon in theUnited States, bidets have a variety

of hygienic advantages and can beinstalled next to the toilet.


Better, Not BiggerA th htf l f th i ti f t i t th th


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68 Fixtures

A more thoughtful use of the existing footprint rather than anexpansion improved this children’s bathroom in a turn-of-the-century Victorian home.

While a simple color palette is best in a small space to keep itfrom feeling cluttered, it doesn’t have to be stark, as is evidencedhere. Understated glass accent tiles add just enough color to whitesubway tile wainscoting that surrounds the room and comple-

ments the light green paint.Dark cabinet knobs and pulls as well as the tile oor seem tomarch the eye toward the centerpiece of the space—a new walk-in shower. It took the place of a corner tub that was rarely used.The large shower is separated from the rest of the bathroomwith a frosted glass window and swinging door. The painted trimframing the window and door helps connect the shower visuallywith the rest of the room; inside the shower, a marble bench andshelves match the vanity top.

While new millwork helped unify the room, new cabinetry pro-vided more storage for the three children who use the bathroom.

left and right • A rowof accent tile atthe top of the tilewainscoting is asimple but effectivedetail that picks upon the color of thepainted upper walls.


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Fixtures 69

above and left • A largeshower replaced a seldom-used tub at one end of therenovated space. A frostedglass door and window

admit plenty of light.


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A generation or two ago, many American householdswere equipped with a simple 5-ft. tub that, with acurtain, doubled as a shower. It was practical if a


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72 Tubs and Showers

little predictable. These days, there is a far broaderrange of options in both period and contemporarystyles; you can nd something to match virtually anyarchitectural style, budget, and oor plan.

Although tubs are still common, some designers aresteering homeowners toward oversize custom showers

instead. The impressive range of nish materials nowon the market includes glass and stone tile and evenpebble surfaces, making it easier for homeowners tocome up with designs that are uniquely their own.

above • A tub that also can be used as a shower makes sense when thereisn’t enough room for two dedicated xtures.

left • With its high back, a slipper tub is an invitation for a long soak whilecomplementing the beadboard wainscoting and other period details.


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Tubs and Showers 73

above • Pairing a large shower with a largetub is the best of both worlds—a shower

for convenience, a tub for relaxing.left • Deep soaking tubs modeled aftertraditional Japanese tubs are designed forsoaking in water up to the chin.

BathtubsShowers may be fast and convenient, but you’ll still


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74 Tubs and Showers

nd a bathtub in most American homes. Even ifyou choose an oversize shower instead of a tub inthe master bath, at least one bathroom in the houseshould have a tub for washing children, for taking along if only occasional soak, and to protect the resalevalue of the house.

The standard 60-in.-long tub is a minimum; itdoesn’t take up much room even in a smaller guestbath, and a gelcoat or acrylic shower/tub combina-tion isn’t especially expensive. There are, of course,many other options, ranging from jetted tubs anddeep, Japanese-style soaking tubs to old-fashionedslipper tubs perfect in a period home and very mod-ern tubs equipped with light-emitting diodes (LEDs),

for what manufacturers call “chromatherapy.” Mate-rials run the gamut, too: plastic, porcelain over castiron, wood, enameled steel, and copper or bronze.

There is one caveat: big tubs can get very heavy. A large tub, 4 ft. by 5 ft. and 34 in. deep, can holdmore than 100 gal. of water and weigh more than ahalf-ton when lled. In both new construction and arenovation, make sure the oor framing is designedfor this kind of load.

WHIRLPOOL TUBSLarge, jetted (or whirlpool) bathtubs have becomecommonplace, installed automatically by somebuilders because they assume buyers want them andfrequently requested by homeowners in bathroomremodels. There are many brands and types on themarket, but before going shopping, be realistic aboutwhether the tub will get enough use to justify itsexpense and the oor space it takes up. Another con-sideration: does your existing hot-water heater haveenough capacity to ll it?

above • Building a tub into a nook is one way of making it less obtrusivevisually.

facing page, bottom • When space permits, a large soaking tub can becomethe focal point of the bathroom.

Some homeowners love these tubs, and it’s easy tosee why. A soak in a whirlpool tub can do a lot to

relieve the aches and pains of everyday life. Nozzlesin the walls pump water against the bather for a


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in the walls pump water against the bather for amassagelike experience. In some tubs, the jets can beadjusted for both direction and water volume. Thenumber and location of jets varies by manufacturer.Tubs with in-line heaters will keep water at a com-fortable temperature while you’re relaxing.

Be aware, though, that there’s some maintenanceinvolved with owning a whirlpool. Plumbing andpumps periodically should be cleared of accumu-lated dirt, soap, body oils and shampoo.Good House-keeping magazine recommends this procedure atleast once a month, but it’s pretty simple: Fill the tubwith hot water, add disinfectant, and circulate waterthrough the system.

above • Claw-foot tubs are typically of one color, but nishing the lower half of this one in adark color helps make it seem a little less massive.

AIR-JET TUBS

In an air-jet tub, streams of tiny bubbles instead ofwater are forced from small openings in the walls of


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the tub. Some models allow the intensity of the airstreams to be adjusted, to let the bather target a soreback or tired feet, for example. Because bath waterisn’t circulated through the tub’s internal plumbing,air-jet tubs don’t need the disinfecting that whirl-pools do. Some manufacturers’ air-jet tubs clear the

lines of any residual water automatically when thetub is drained. And air-jet tubs aren’t as complex aswhirlpools so they’re less prone to problems.

Some users nd the streams of air bubbles lessintense than a water-jetted tub, and they say the airjets noticeably cool the bath water. Water-jetted tubscan overcome this problem with in-line heaters thatkeep tub water at a constant temperature. If you’re

trying to decide between the two types of jetted tubs,it would be a good idea to discuss these issues withyour designer.

above right • Jetted tubscome in a variety of shapesand sizes, including modelsthat take up no more roomthan a standard 60-in.

bathtub.right • Tubs may use eitherwater or air jets, and somemodels combine bothfeatures in a single unit.


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Tubs and Showers 77

Soaking in a jetted tub with a view is agreat way to relax. For everyday use, anadjacent shower may be more practical.

SOAKING TUBS

Bathing traditions in Japan are very different thanin the U.S. The traditional soaking tub, or ofuro, is


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78 Tubs and Showers

deeper than the tubs we’re used to seeing. The ideabehind these tubs is soaking, not washing. In fact,you climb in and relax after cleaning yourself thor-oughly in an adjacent bathing area. Not all of thosetraditions will necessarily translate to bathrooms inthe United States, but Japanese-style tubs are widely

available here and made from a variety of materi-als. These include wood, the traditional material inJapan, as well as acrylic, stainless steel, copper, and,in a custom installation, concrete.

Like the larger whirlpool and air-jet tubs, soak-ing tubs can hold a lot of water, and they are deepenough to allow the bather to sit upright with waterat chin height. Because their shape is not as elon-

gated as a conventional bathtub, they don’t takeup as much oor area. Their depth may requireeither an external step or a design that sinks the tubat least partway into the oor to make it easier to getin and out.

right • In this largebathroom, the bathtub andshower each has a separatezone with a vanity andmirror between them.


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Tubs and Showers 79

above • Large windows over thetub ood this bathroom withlight but can be covered withroll-down shades when privacyis required.

left • When built into atiled surround, even a largesoaking tub retreats into thebackground, and the tub deckprovides room for towels andtoiletries.


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left • The broad ledge around the lip of this tubdoubles as a seat for the adjacent shower. Locatingxtures next to each other keeps all the wet in one

part of the room.


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Tubs and Showers 81

above • A narrow foyer at one end of this bathroomis sized perfectly for a large built-in tub. Thegreen ceramic tile used for the surround gives theinstallation some pop.


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82 Tubs and Showers

BathtubsTubs are made with a variety of materi-als. In general, the more you spend, themore durable the tub should be. Cop-per, bronze, and stainless-steel xturesare the most costly.

FIBERGLASS/GELCOAT $

• A mold is sprayed with a thin layer of polyesterresin called gelcoat, then layers of fiberglassare added for strength.

• Resists stains, but the topcoat is thinner andnot as durable as other plastic options, suchas acrylic.

• Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations oncleaning to avoid damaging the surface.

PORCELAIN OVER STEEL$

• Porcelain enamel is fused with heat to asubstrate of sheet steel formed into a tub.

• Lighter in weight than cast-iron tubs, but notas durable.

• Porcelain is easy to keep clean and resistsstains, but any nicks or cracks in the surfacewill allow the steel tub to rust.

ACRYLIC$$

• Made by forming sheets of acrylic in a vacuummold and reinforcing the tub with fiberglass.

• More durable than fiberglass/gelcoat with athicker color layer so minor scratches won’t beobvious.

• Like fiberglass/gelcoat, acrylic should not becleaned with harsh, abrasive cleaners.

CULTURED MARBLE$$

• Tubs are made with a mixture of marble dustand plastic resins to resemble the look of stone.

• Some manufacturers offer to make shower

surrounds and sinks at the same time for a goodcolor match throughout the bathroom.• As with other fixtures, choose the right cleaner

to avoid damaging the surface.

PORCELAIN ENAMEL OVER CAST IRON$$-$$$

• Extremely durable but also heavy.• Surface is nonporous, stain resistant, and easy

to keep clean.

• The process in which the enamel is bonded tothe cast-iron core produces deep, vivid colors.

• Mass of cast iron helps maintain watertemperature.

COPPER, BRONZE, AND STAINLESSSTEEL$$$

• Very expensive, but also extremely durable.• Retain heat like cast iron.

• Not susceptible to corrosion, but some metalsurfaces require polishing to maintain theiroriginal luster.


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Tubs and Showers 83

above • A freestanding tub is more of a design element in a bathroomthan a tub hidden by a surround.

left • Allowing oor tile to lap up the side of the tub surround is aneffective way of making the bathroom feel cohesive.

Freestanding TubsNothing complements period décor in an old housebetter than an old bathtub, or at least one that looks old:

l f li b A l f b i d


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a claw-foot or a slipper tub. A claw-foot tub sits on deco-rative cast-iron feet and has exposed supply and drainlines at one end. A slipper tub is very similar, except thatone end swoops up to provide a comfortable back rest.Double-ended slipper tubs are raised at each end. Yet another variation on this basic design is a pedestaltub, which has a solid pedestal instead of individualfeet for support.

Vintage tubs can still be found, but reproductions

Documents

New Bathroom Ideas - Gibson